Ventilated console



Nov. 18, 1952 A. H. MILLER VENQILATED CONSOLE Filed Dec. 1, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. ANNA l-lAAss Mn. 1.1-: e.

ATTOENE Y v 6 WM 2 T||||| |1||11|||I1|||l| D D 3 5 C C 1 u a NOV. 18, A, H VENTILATED CONSOLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1949 Nov. 18, 1952 A. H. MILLER VENTILATED CONSOLE Filed Dec. 1, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 ANNA HAAsE M/LLEE,

' INVENTOR.

A TTOENE Y Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES i 'liiNT OFFICE VENTILATED CONSQLE Haase Miller Hickory, N. C.

Application December l, 1949, Serial No. 130,473

(Cl. EAL-163) Elsi-ins. 1

This invention relates to an article of furniture and more especially to a ventilated console having means therein for suspending clothes or the like in spaced relation to each other and having means whereby air may circulate through the console to dry the clothes or to air them out and also, if desired, means for heating the interior of the console may be provided to further assist in the drying of the clothes therein.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a ventilated console having means therein for suspending various articles such as moist towels, clothing or the like, in spaced relation to each other, to be dried inside the console and also, if desired, having means for eating the interior of the console and also being provided with ventilation openings through which air may circulate to air out the clothes and to assist in drying the same.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ventilated console of the type described which may also be used as a piece of household furniture such as a night stand, end table, storage cabinet, or the like.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a ventilated console of the type describe having clothes hanging rods removably ispose 1 therein which may be moved from one part of the console to another and which may be removed from the console to facilitate the hanging of clothes or the like thereon or the removal of clothes therefrom. A drip tray is also provided which is adapted to rest on the floor of the console an to catch and retain moisture dripping from the articles being dried within the console. This drip tray is preferably provided with handles to facilitate the easy removal thereof and to permit the tray to be used as a carrying tray for loading and unloading the console and for other purposes.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a ventilated console of the type descri having at least one wall thereof provided with brackets for the reception of a suitable electric heating unit so that a heating unit may be disposed therein, if desired, and the emitted therefrom will assist in drying articles suspended within the console.

Some of the objects of the in ention having been stated, other objects will appear the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an isometric view of a preferred form of a ventilated console having a eating n r can element idisposediin its rear wall and showing the manner in which clothes hanging rods are posed in the upper portion of the console nd showing a drip tray in the bottom of the console;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the console tak n substantially along the line 22 in Figure l and showing the manner in which the heating element is disposed in the rear panel or" the console;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Figure l and showing the inner side or" the screen door at the right-hand side of the console in Figure l and showing the manner in which the rack for supporting the clothes hanging rods is disposed within the console but omitting the clothes ing rods;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a modified form or" console showing the heating element, the drying rack and the drip pan in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the console shown Figure l and looking at the right-hand side of Figure 4 and showing the manner in which ventilating louvres are disposed in the side walls thereof and showing brackets for supporting a heating unit in dotted lines;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 in Figure 5 and showing the heating unit supported by brackets on the rear wall of the console;

Figure '7 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line l--'l in Figure l and showing the drying rack and showing the front door in an opened position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 88 in Figure 7 and showing the manner in which the door is connected to the drying rack;

Figure 9 is an isometric view of another modifled form of a console and showing its top in raised position and showing a removable heating unit disposed on the rear wall thereof and showing clothes hanging rods disposed in the top portion thereof;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line l0ll in Figure 9 and showing the upwardly and downwardly turned ventilating louvres in the or" the console;

Figure 11 is a sectional plan view taken suhstantially along the line i l-ll in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the console taken substantially along the line ill-l2 in Figure 9, showing the manner in which the top ventilator louvres are formed.

Referring more specifically to the drawings it will be observed that I have provided a ventilated console which is shown in three forms, the preferred form being shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, However, it is to be understood that any or all of the modifications shown in the other figures of the drawings may be used with the preferred form of the invention if so desired.

Now, referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there will be observed a ventilated console broadly designated at IE3 having a frame comprising a plurality of vertically disposed angle bars I I, I2, I3 and I ito the upper ends of which are welded a plurality of horizontally disposed angle bars I5, II, I8 and IS, the upper ends of bars I2 and It being spaced from the downturned portion of bar II. The lower ends of the angle bars II, I2, I3 and I4 are suitably secured, as by weldingto the corner portions of upturned flanges ZI of a floor member 22 and a bar I only one of which is shown is secured, as by welding, to the side of each angle bar I2 and I3 in spaced relation to the rear portion of the angle bars I2 and IS.

A top 23 is hingedly, secured as at 25 to the upper surface of the horizontal angle bar I? and this top 23 may be pivoted in an arc of 180 'degrees so that when it is in the position shown in Figure 1, it will cover the opening formed by the angle bars IE, IT, I3 and I 9 and will provide a table-like top for the console It and which may be pivoted to the left in Figure l to permit articles to be placed wihin the console It.

Hingedly secured by hinges 25 to the. angle bar I2 is a left-hand side door 2? having a screen panel 28 therein, and hingedly secured as at 36 to the angle bar I3 is a right-hand side door 3i having a screen panel 32 therein. The doors 2? and 32 are identical except that one is opposite hand to the other;

Hingedly secured as at 33 and 3% to the angle bars II and Id, respectively, are left and right front door frames 3'6 and 3! having screen panels 38 and lidrespectively; The doors'ZI, 3I, 35 and 31 each has a latch member AI for holding it in a closed position, the latches lI comprising a handle which may be grasped to open the said doors.

A door stop 32 (shown in dotted lines'in Figure 1) is disposed midway of the front portion of the console IE1 and is secured at its-upper end to angle bar I9 and at its lower end to the flange 21 of the floor 22.

A rear wall 59 is confined at its lower edge between the angle bars' I2 and I3 and the bars I5 and its upper edge is confined between the bars I5 and the upper ends of'the angle .bars i2 and I3. The rear wall 59 may be of any suitable material such as glass or plastic or the like and has disposed therein a heating element H which is connected at 52 to suitable electric wires53 and 56 which are, in turn, connected to a plug 5% which may be plugged into an outlet connectedto a source of electrical energy, not shown. The heating element 5I is preferably of a low wattage so that a suihcient amount of heat-will be provided to heat articles within the interior of the console Iii but the elementii will notheat the wall 58 to such a point that clothes or the like coming into contact therewith might be burned or scorched. If a high wattageis used it is obvious that suitable insulation must be provided.

The floor 22 of the console It supports a'drip tray broadly designated at 60 having front and rear walls 6I and B2 and side walls I53 and 6d. Handles 65 and 66 are secured to the side portions 63 and 6 1 to facilitate easy removal of the 4 drip tray from the console Iii. The drip tray IQ is provided to catch and retain liquid dripping from clothes or the like being dried in the console and is removable so that liquid contained therein may be emptied and so that the tray may be used to carry clothes to and from the console.

A rack it formed of corrugated wire is disposed in the upper interior portion of the console is and is secured, as by welding, to the interior surfaces of the angle bars II, i2, I3 and I 4. A plurality of clothes hanging rods II re adapted to be disposed with their opposed ends resting in furrows I2 in the rack 79. It is thus seen that the rods II may be removed from the console Iii to facilitate the placing of clothing or the like thereon and. they may then be placed in the console, the furrows i2 of the rack I6 causing thorn to be disposed in spaced relation to thus provide space between the clothes hangin thereon through which air may circulate.

It is thus seen that articles such as clothes or the like may be placed on the rods '72 and'thus be suspended within the'console It and that air will be permitted to circulate freely through the screen portions'28, 32, 38 and 33 of the doors 2'5, 3 I ,36 and 3i,respectively,to air the articles hang ing within the console'ifl and to prevent or the like from forming thereon andto assist in drying wet clothing or the like. It is also seen that the plug M'maybe connected to a suitable source of electricity to energize the heating element M to heat the articles within the console which will assist in drying the same.

Referring to Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the e will be observed a modified form of the invention which may also be used as a suitable bed side table, storage cabinet or thelike and which broadly designatedat l5 and has a frame composed of any suitable material such as sheet metal, plastic or the like bent to form a left-hand side wall I5, a front wall 51, a right-hand wall I8 and a rear side wall I9. The left-hand portion of the rear wall I9 in Figure? is bent at an angle to engage the edge of the left-hand side wall It and is secured'theretoby any suitable means, such as spot welding;

The front wall'l 'of the console l5 has an opening SI for access to the interior of the console. The frame of the console comprising the walls ES, IT, IS and I9 rests on a floor member 82 having upturned flanges 83 which are secured to the lower portions ofthe walls iii, 71?, i3 and I9 in any suitable manner, as by spot welding.

A suitable top 84 having downturned edges 85 is provided to fit over the upper portion of the walls I6, 11, I8 and I9 of the console 15 to close the top of the same. Disposed in the upper portion of the side walls 16 and I8 are ventilation louvres 86 formed by cutting the side walls It and I8 along a out line' indicated at 87 in Figure 6 and then bending'a. portion of the side wall outwardly and downwardly to form the upwardly facing louvres fit through which air may flow to ventilate the interior of the console I5.

The lower portions of the side walls I6 and 78' also have suitable slots or'louvres 9B which are formed by cutting a portion of the side walls It and 78 along the line 9| and bending the adjacent portions of the walls outwardly and upwardly to form the downwardly facing louvres 98 through which air may blow to ventilate the interior of the console I5.

The louvres 86 and 9B are faced upwardly and downwardly, respectively, to facilitate the flow of air through the console I5 due to the fact that 5 heated air rises and air will thus usually enter the louvres 90 in the bottom of the console and flow through the interior thereof and then flow out through the louvres 86 in the top of the console.

Suitably secured to the left-hand sides of the front walls I1 as by hinges 95 is a front door 96.

The front door 38 has a suitable screen panel 9? to permit additional ventilation of the interior of the console I5. A latch member 98 is disposed on the right-hand side of the front door 96 to hold the same in closed position and to serve as a handle for the door 96.

By referring to Figures '7 and 8 it will be observed that the front door 9! has a bracket I thereon in which is disposed a downturned portion of a rod IIlI, the other end of which extends into the interior of the console I and slidably rests on the upper portion of a drying rack III]. The rod IGI has an enlarged portion I32 on the inner end thereof which is adapted to be engaged by a substantially L-shaped member I03 suitably secured to the drying rack I I 0 to prevent the rod IIII from becoming disassociated with the drying rack IIil for purposes about'to be described.

Suitably secured to the upper inner surfaces of the side walls I5 and I8 are support rods I05 and IE5 which support clips I0! and I58 secured thereto and which extend the depth of the console and which are bent to clampingly and slidably support the drying rack III) which may be of any suitable material such as wire and which is substantially rectangular in shape to conform to the general contour of the interior of the console I5. The rack IIO has a plurality of spaced rods III welded at their opposed ends to the upper surfaces thereof to form a grid upon which clothes or the like to be dried may be suspended.

It is thus seen that when the door 96 is partially opened the enlarged portion I02 will engage the L-shaped member I03 on the rack H0. Now, as the door 96 is moved farther in a clockwise direction in Figure 7, the rack He will be caused to slide, in its support clips IIlI and I 38, outwardly through the opening 8I to where a portion of the rack III will be disposed outside the console I5 to thus facilitate the placing of articles on the rack I III or the removal of the same. If desired, the downturned portion of the rod IIlI not shown, which fits in the bracket I00 may be removed so that the door 35 will swing free of the rod III I.

The floor 82 of the console I5 supports a suitable drip pan I I2 which is adapted to collect and retain drippings of liquid from the clothing or the like being dried in the console I5 and which may be removed from the console I5 if desired to empty the liquid collected therein or for any other desired purpose.

By referring to Figures 5 and 6 it will be observed that a suitable piece of sheet metal or the like is welded to the inner surface of the rear wall I9 to form a substantially L-shaped bracket I I5 on the left-hand side of the rear wall in Figure 6. A similar piece of sheet metal or the like is welded to the right-hand interior surface of the rear wall IE to form a substantially L-shaped bracket H5. The lower portions of the brackets H5 and He are disposed in. the same horizontal plane and their ends are spaced apart as at III for purposes to be presently described. It is thus seen that the brackets H5 and H6 form grooves in which a heating unit I I8 which is preferably of the so-called radiant panel type may be inserted.

This heating unit may beof any suitable material such as'a glass panel or of graphite and rubber or it may be of a wire and grid type and in the latter case it must be protected by suitable insulation not shown.

The heating unit I I8 has a suitable heating element I20 disposed therein which is connected to wires I2I and I22 which are, in turn, connected to a plug, not shown, which may be inserted in a suitable outlet of electrical energy, not shown.

The rear Wall I3 has a cut away portion I23 through which the wires IZI and I22 and the plug attached thereto may be passed.

It is thus seen that the heating unit II8 may be placed in the brackets II 5 and I I5 of the console I5 and the plug, not shown, on the ends of the wires I 2| and I 22 may be plugged into a suitable outlet so that electrical energy, preferably of low wattage, will energize the element I20 to provide heat to assist in drying articles such as clothing and the like disposed on the rods I II in the console 75.

The space III between the lower portions of the brackets H5 and H6 is provided so that the lower portion of the heating unit I I8 may be en'- gaged to slide it upwardly in the brackets I I5 and I I6 to remove the same from the console I5 so that the heating unit I I8 may be used as a separate element apart from the console I5.

Now, referring to Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12, there will be observed still another form of ventilated console. This form of the invention is broadly designated at I30 and comprises a frame having a rear wall I 3I having its right and left-hand ends in Figure 9 turned inwardly as at I32 and I 33. Suitably secured, as by welding, to the outer surfaces of the inturned flange I32, is the edge of a single piece of sheet metal or the like which extends forwardly in Figure 9 to form a left side wall I34 and then is curved to the right in Figure 9 to form a front wall I35 and then is curved rearwardly to form a right side wall I35 and the right-hand end thereof is suitably secured, as by welding, to the inturned portion I33.

The frame of the console I 3!] formed by Walls I3I, I34, I35 and I36 rests on a floor I37 having an upturned flange I 38 extending therearouncl and to which the lower portions of the walls I3I, I34, I35 and I36 are secured, as by welding.

A top I43 is hingedly secured as at MI to the upper surface of the wall I3! and this top I49 has a projection I44 extending rearwardly therefrom so that when the top is pivoted in an arc of 180 degrees its projection I44 will engage the back wall I3I to provide a support on which articles can be placed in changing or emptying the console. In closed position it will provide a table-like top for the console I 38 on which articles can be placed. A suitable handle I42 (Figure 10) is secured to the outer surface of the top I 40.

The side walls I 3 3 and I36 of the console I39 are provided with upper and lower ventilatin' louvres 8B and 33' which are formed in a manner identical to the louvres and 93 in the console I5 heretofore described (as may be clearly observed in Figure 12) and therefore a further description of the louvres 85 and 58 will not be given. The front wall I35 has a plurality of perforations I 's-3 therein to provide additional ventilation.

A rod support I 5 of substantially the same configuration as walls I33, I35 and is disposed in the upper portion of the console I38 and is secured to the flanges I 32 and I33 and to the interior surface of the walls [33, I35 and l36 in any desired manner as by welding.

The rod support [45 has a plurality of spaced notches I46 therein in which opposed ends of clothes hanging rods It? may be disposed. It is thus seen that the clothes hanging rods Id? may be removed from the console Hill and articles such as wet clothing, rags, brushes and the like may be placed thereon and then the rods hi7 may be placed with their ends in the notches l 36 in the support M to thus suspend the clothes or the like in spaced relation to each other within the console I39.

In Figure suitable double-ended hooks its are shown suspended on the rods Hll, which can be used for suspending brushes or other articles which cannot be suspended from the rods themselves. This type of hook can also be employed on rods 1i and ill in the other forms of the invention, if desired.

The rear wall It! of the console lSt is provided with brackets H5 and H5 in which a heating unit I I8 may be removably disposed in a manner identical to the manner in which the heating unit H8 is disposed in the brackets H5 and ill: in the console heretofore described. The brackets H5 and H8 and the heating unit H8 are identical to the brackets H5 and iii) and the heating unit H8 and a further description of the same is not deemed necessary.

It is thus seen that I have provided a console in which various articles, such as clothing and the like, may be suspended so as to be wholly concealed within the console, and which console has means for ventilating the same to air out and dry the articles therein and also be provided with means for heating the inter or thereof, and which console may also be uses. as an article of furniture.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes or" limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A ventilated console having front, rear side walls, said front and side walls having openings therein, screen doors hingedly mounted on opposed c rners of the console for closing said openings, said console having a door member and a top niei ber, the top member having an opening therein, a top door hingedly secured to one of the walls for closing the opening in the top member, said rear wall having a panel therein having a radiant electric heating element therein, means for connecting the heating element to a suitable source of electricity, a removable tray supported by the floor of the console and having handles thereon to facilitate the removal thereof from the console, means for suspending wet clothing and the like within the interior oi the console comprising a pair of corrugated wires supported by the Walls of the console and having a plurality of rods removably spaced in the furrows thereof and extending therebetween, whereby air may circulate through the interior of the console to dry the clothing therein, said heating element imparting heat to the clothing to assist in drying the same.

2. A ventilated console having front, rear and side walls and a floor and being provided with a removable top, said front wall having an opening therein, a screened front door hingedly secured to the front wall for closing the opening therein, said side walls having a plurality of upwardly facing louvres therein and a plurality of other louvres facing downwardly, through which air may flow to ventilate the interior of the console, a removable drip tray supported by the floor of the console, a grid clampingly secured to the upper interior walls of the console and from which articles may be suspended, said grid being slidable exteriorly 01"- the console, a removable radiant heating unit having an electric heating element therein, said rear wall having a pair of L-shaped brackets secured to its inner surface, said brackets forming a groove in which the removable heating unit is disposed, said heating element having wires connecting the same to a source of electricity, the lower legs of the L- shaped bra kets being in the same horizontal plane and having their proximate ends disposed in spaced relation to each other so that the lower portion of the heating unit may be engaged to remove the same from th console, whereby air flowing through the louvres will tend to dry the articles suspended from the grid, said heating unit imparting heat to said clothing to assist in drying the same.

3. A ventilated console having front, rear and e walls, said front and side walls having opens therein, doors hingedly mounted on opa top door hingedly secured to one for closing the opening in the top member, rear wall having a panel therein having a electric heating element therein, means for connecting the heating element to a suitable source of electricity, a removable drip tray supported by the floor of the console and having handles thereon to feel 'tate the removal thereof from the console, means for suspending wet clothing the like within the interior of the console cor: rising a pair of corrugated wires supported by the walls of the console and having a plurality of rods rernovably spaced in the furrows thereof extending therebetween, whereby air circulate through the interior of the console to dry the clothing therein, said heating element imparting heat to the clothing to assist in drying the same.

i. A ven ilated console having front, rear and side v is and a floor and being provided with a remo 2 too, front wall having an opening therein, front door hingedly secured to the front r l for closing the opening therein, said side we 5 having a plurality of upwardly facing louvres in and a plurality of other louvres facing downwardly, through which air flow to vent ate the interior of the console, a removable drip tray supported by the floor of the console, a grid ciainpingly secured to the upper interior walls of the console and from which articles may be suspended, said grid being slidable exteriorly of the console, removable radiant heating unit having an electric heating element therein, said rear wall having a pair of L-shaped brackets secured to inner surface, said brackets forming a groove in which the removabl heating unit is disposed, said heating element having wires connecting the same to a source of electricity, the lower legs of the L- shaped brackets being in the same horizontal plane and having their proximate ends disposed in spaced relation to each other so that the lower portion of the heating unit may be engaged to its 9 10 remove the same from the console, whereby an UNITED STATES PATENTS flowing through the louvres will tend to dry the Number Name Date articles suspended from the grid, said heating 1,263,778 Dodge et aL June 4 1918 unit imparting heat to said clothing to assist in 1,363,130 Kuder 21, 1920 drying the Same- 5 1,460,378 Hicks et a1 July s, 1923 ANNA HAASE MILLER 1,752,797 Hutchinson Apr. 1, 1930 1,867,388 Snively July 12, 19 2 REFERENCES CITED 2,257,394 Niersbach Sept. 30, 1941 Ihe following references are of record in the 2,412,407 Kilbury 10, 946

file of this patent: 10 2,423,587 Drewes July 8, 1947 

